Electrical-circuit-connecting device



June 11, 1929.-

P. F. WILLIAMS 1.717.329

ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT CONNECTING DEVICE Original Filed Oct. 18. 1922 2Sheets-Sheet l June 11, 1929. P. F. WILLIAMS ELECTRICAL CIRCUITCONNECTING DEVICE Original Filed Oct. 18 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 imiemzbr%a/Zf Patented June 11, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL F. WILLIAMS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO G & W ELECTRICSFECIALTY CO., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

ELECTRICAL-CIRCUIT-CONNEGTING DEVICE.

Application filed October 18, 1922, Serial No. 595,229.

My invention relates to electrical circuit connecting devices, andparticularly to a form thereof commonly known as potheads.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a practicable andserviceable device of the class specified.

' Another object of the invention is to secure simplicity ofconstruction and effectiveness and efiiciency in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple, practical andadvantageous construction for taking care of the are at the break whenthe circuit is opened, and protecting the lineman or user of the devicefrom injury by contact with line parts when the cover is removed.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of aportion of a pothead embodying my present invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section taken on line 22 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 1 of a less portion of a modifiedform'of device;

Fig. 4 is a cross-section taken on line 4-4 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3'of a still further modification; and

Fig. 6 is a cross-section taken on line 6-6 in Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, I show apothead having a lower or base tubular insulating member 1, preferablyporcelain, and an upper or cap member 2, also preferably porcelain,fitted on the upper end of member 1. The end of a cable 3 is run intothe lower end of member 1, and an overhead conductor 4 is run to cap 2.The two members 1 and 2 are provided with connecting devices forconnecting cable 3 and conductor-.4 together and permit tingdisconnection of the same.

The connecting device of the member 1 involves a metallic terminal 5having its lower end provided with a socket into which the end 6 of thecable conductor is fitted and secured, as by soldering. The upperportion of this terminal 5 is also socket-like, having a bore 7Insulating material 8 preferably is confined in the member 1, andsurrounds and insulates terminal 5. Screws 99 are preferably used tohold terminal 5 in place, as by passing through apertures 1()10 inmember 1, and into enlargement 11 on terminal 5.

The contact device on the cap involves a Renewed May 31, 1927.

metallic terminal 12 adapted to fit in bore 7 of terminal 5. Saidterminal 12 is tubular, with longitudinal slots 13 at its lower end, tosecure compressibility to insure ready entry into and sliding withinterminal 5. Member 12 has the upper end of its bore screwthreaded andsame receives the threaded end 14 of a metallic stem which forms thelower end of a socket terminal 16 for the conductor 4 of the overheadwire 4, said socket 16 being preferably embedded in compound 17 fillinga cavity in the top of cap 2, and rubber tape 18 being preferably woundaround upper end of cap 2 and lower end of wire 4. Also a gasket 19 ispreferably arranged around the lower end of socket 16 in a groove 20 tomake a tight joint for compound 17 and hold socket 16 in place. Thussocket 16, stem 15 and tubular member 12 form terminal arrangement foroverhead line 4, mating and fitting slidably and dctachably into cableterminal 5, to permit connection and disconnection of the circuit.Further, a metallic extension nut 21 is screw-threaded over stem 14 andwasher 22 over nut 21.

Furthermore, arrangement is made for taking up the are at break. In thearrangei'nent shown for carrying out this feature of the invention, aring 24 is shown at or near the upper end of base member 1. This ring 24is preferably made of insulating material, such as bakelite, and isprovided with a metallic arcing nut 25, the latter being preferablymoulded into the bakelite ring 24. Thus the arc between lower end of capterminal 12 and upper end of base terminal 5, when former is withdrawnfrom latter, will be taken by areing nut 25, and consequently terminals12 and 5 will not be damaged. This is due to the fact that an arcappears first between contacts 5 and 12. Later an arc is formed between11 and arcing nut 25 and also between arcing nut 25 and terminal 12, sothat there is a multiple arc gap formed. The bakelite ring 24 ispreferably wide enough to form sort of a cover for the base 1 and theparts in its upper end,'so that a lineman will be protected from contactwith those line parts when cover is removed. Also ring 24 preferably hasan elevated portion 24 which will prevent lineman from coming in contactwith nut 25 and thereby becoming injured. Since nut 25 and ring 24 arepreferably mounted so as to be removable and replaceable, a new one canbe put in when the one in use becomes damaged suffiment or replacementby touching ring 24: and

not nut 25.

As a simple arrangement for holding ring 24 and nut 25 in place, I showmetallic clips or supports 2626, secured to ring 24 by screws 27-27, andin turn supported by screws 99, whereby combination ring 24 and nut 25may be removed and replaced by manipulating screws 99 and 27-27.

In the modification shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the extension nut 21 isomitted and member 12 run clear up to washer 22. The bakelite ring 24,into which nut 25 is molded, is of slightly different shape from ring24, but substantially covers the top of base 1 and has raised portion24'', and said ring and nut are held in position by being screw-threadedon upper end of terminal 5*, screws 99 being omitted. A serrated locknut 28 is used, as is also a sealing plate 29 and a cemented lockingring 30 held by cement 31, whereby the terminal is held in position andupper end of base member 1 sealed. Terminal 5 may be drawn up so thatshoulder 32 may contact with shoulder 33 on ring 30, and then be heldfirmly in place by locking ring 28. Then combination ring 245 and nut 25may be screwed firmly down on top of terminal 5.

Referring to modification shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the extension nut 21is shown in use, and a porcelain ring 24 of very similar size and shapeto one shown in Fig. 1, and are nut 25 is screwed on top or member 5. Alock nut 28 is shown and also a locking plate 35 held by screws 86 upona cemented ring 37 which is held in position by cement 38. Thisconstruction also holds the various parts in place and also seals theupper end of mem her 1.

It will be understood. thatchanges and modifications may bemade withoutdeparting from thespirit of the invention. 2

What I claim is:

1. A device of the class specified having separable terminals, and alsohaving an arcing device comprising an inner annular metallic member andan outer insulating member, one of said separable terminals passingthrough said inner metallic member.

2. A device of the class specified having separable terminals, and alsohaving an arcing device comprising an inner annular metallic member andan outer insulating member, said inner and outer members being securedtogether, and one of said separable terminals passing through saidannular metallic member.

3. A device of the class specified having separable terminals, and alsohaving an arcing device comprising an inner annular metallic member oneof said terminals passing through said metallic member and an outerinsulating member, and means for detachably mounting said arcing devicein proximity to the locus of separation of said terminals.

4. A pothead comprising a tubular insulating base and an insulating captherefor, cooperating terminal devices carried by said base and cap, andan arcing device mounted at the upper end of the base and'comprising ametallic arcingnut surrounding said terminals at their point ofseparation and a ring of insulating material secured to and surroundingsaid nut.

5. A pothead comprising a tubular insulating base and an insulating captherefor, cooperating terminal de ices carried by said base and cap, andan arcing device mounted at the upper end of the base and comprising ametallic arcing nut surrounding said terminals at their point ofseparation and a ring of insulating material secured to and surroundingsaid nut, saidinsulating ring being adapted to cover the upper end ofthe base to lessen likelihood of cont-act with parts therein.

6. A pothead comprising a tubular insulating base and an insulating captherefor, cooperating terminal devices carried by said base and cap, andan arcing device mounted at the upper end of the base and comprising ametallic arcing nut surrounding said terminals at their point ofseparation and a ring of insulating material secured to and surroundingsaid nut, said insulating ring being adapted to cover the upper end ofthe base to lessen likelihood of contact with parts therein and havingan elevated portion to prevent contact with said arcing nut.

7. A pothead comprising atubular insulating base and an insulating captherefor, cooperating terminal devices carried by said base and cap, andan arcing device mounted at the upper end of the base and comprising ametallic arcing nut surrounding said terminals and a ring of insulatingmaterial'secured to and surrounding said nut, said nut being detachablymounted on upper end of base terminal. it

8. A pothead comprising a tubular insulating base and an insulating captherefor, co-' operating terminal devices carried by said base and cap,and an arcing device mounted at the upper end of the base and comprisinga metallic arcing nut surrounding said terminals at their point ofseparation and a ring of insulating material secured to and sur-"rounding said nut, said nut having a screwthreaded connection with upperend of the base terminal.

9. A pothead comprising a tubular insulating base and an insulating captherefor, cooperating terminal devices carried by said base and cap, andan arcing device mounted at the upper end of the base'and comprising ametallic arcing nut surrounding said terminals at their point ofseparation and a ring of insulating material secured to and surroundingsaid nut, and means for holding the base terminal in position.

10. A pothead comprising a tubular insulating base and an insulating captherefor, cooperating terminal devices carried by said base and cap, andan arcing device mounted at the upper end of the base and comprising ametallic arcing nut surrounding said terminals at their point ofseparation and a ring of insulating material secured to and surroundingsaid nut, and means for holding the base terminal in position, and alsofor sealing the upper end of the base.

11. A pothead comprising a tubular insulating base and an insulating captherefor, cooperating terminal devices carried by said base and cap, anarcing device mounted at the upper end of the base and comprising ametallic arcing nut surrounding said terminals at their point ofseparation and a ring of insulating material secured to and surroundingsaid nut, and means for holding the base terminal in position and alsofor sealing upper end of the base, said holding and sealing meanscomprising a lock nut hav ing a threaded connection with the baseterminal, a sealing plate below said lock nut, and a ring below thesealing plate, said ring being cemented to the interior of the basemember.

12. A pothead comprising base and cap members and cooperating connectingdevices carried by same and an insulating cover device at the top of thebase to lessen likelihood of contact with the parts therein.

13. In a device of the class specified, separable terminals and anarcing device for use in connection with said terminals, said areingdevice comprising inner and outer rings,

one of which is of metal and the other of which is of insulatingmaterial.

14. In a device of the class specified, the combination of separableterminals and an arcing device for use in connection therewith, saidarcing device comprising an inner metallic ring and an outer insulatingring.

15. In a device of the class specified, the combination with the outercasing of a terminal therein, a holding plate having threaded connectionwith said terminal, an annular member supporting said holding plate andin turn supported by the casing, and a lock nut also having threadedengagement with the terminal and arranged to lock the terminal andholding plate together, said terminal having a lateral projectionadapted and arranged to engage said annular member.

16. A device of the class specified comprising separable terminals, andan arcing device comprising a ring of insulating material and a metallicarcing nut molded with said ring, one of said terminals passing throughsaid arcing device.

17. In a device of the class specified, the combination with separableterminals of an arcing device comprising a removable arcing ring and anannular protecting member surrounding said ring and removable with thesame.

18. In a device of the class specified, the combination of a socketterminal and an arcing device, mounted adjacentthe open end of saidsocket terminal and comprising an inner arcing ring, and an outer ringarranged outside of said arcing ring.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 19th day ofSeptember. A. D., 1922.

PAUL F. IVILLIAMS.

